Twenty-six out of 195. That is the number of countries with women foreign ministers. This week, as female foreign ministers from around the world convene in Montreal for the first meeting of its kind, 87 per cent of countries didn’t have the option to send a representative.

If the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are achieved by 2030, the lives of girls and women will be forever changed. The goals contain transformative promises on gender equality: from equal access to quality education to increased participation in the labour force, to ending the scourge of gender-based violence.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), signed by 193 countries, have committed the world to an ambitious objective: to leave no one behind. In order to do so, the goals state that the measures to monitor progress should be broken up not only by gender and age but also by specific population groups, including those who are economically disadvantaged, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities.

Girls’ and women’s movements have been driving change in their communities for years, and Equal Measures 2030 is committed to supporting their powerful work to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Last week at the United Nations General Assembly, Equal Measures 2030 launched a multi-country policymaker survey that explored perceptions of progress on gender-related issues and access to and use of data to inform decisions.

LONDON — Next month, members of the United Nations General Assembly will meet to tackle a host of global challenges, including implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Gender equality runs through all of the goals, and can be a key driver of economic development, particularly in emerging markets such as India.

In 2017, Equal Measures 2030—an independent civil society and private sector-led partnership—was established in order to connect data and evidence with advocacy and action as a means to drive gender equality and reach the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

On International Women’s Day, social media channels light up with a flurry of messages and infographics about gender equality. While we welcome this spotlight on data, we also need to look beyond the moment and focus on how we can use the information to bring real change to the lives of women and girls around the world.

Be a part of the story

Latest Tweets

#Genderequality is not only about women – it is a societal issue that impacts us all. #WD2019 is an opportunity to come together to reach a more #genderequalworld. @Equal2030 is ready to join the movement at #WD2019. https://t.co/AngcjxZqWA

Are you a reporter interested in #genderequality and #reprohealth? Join the UN Foundation & @univaccessproj on a press fellowship to Vancouver for @WomenDeliver! Learn more & apply by March 20: https://t.co/UbcbAjisDh